diff --git a/bridge/matrix/matrix.go b/bridge/matrix/matrix.go
index 9516a4fa..b50c9d8b 100644
--- a/bridge/matrix/matrix.go
+++ b/bridge/matrix/matrix.go
@@ -368,13 +368,6 @@ func (b *Bmatrix) handleEvent(ev *matrix.Event) {
 			Avatar:   b.getAvatarURL(ev.Sender),
 		}
 
-		// Text must be a string
-		if rmsg.Text, ok = ev.Content["body"].(string); !ok {
-			b.Log.Errorf("Content[body] is not a string: %T\n%#v",
-				ev.Content["body"], ev.Content)
-			return
-		}
-
 		// Remove homeserver suffix if configured
 		if b.GetBool("NoHomeServerSuffix") {
 			re := regexp.MustCompile("(.*?):.*")
@@ -390,6 +383,13 @@ func (b *Bmatrix) handleEvent(ev *matrix.Event) {
 			return
 		}
 
+		// Text must be a string
+		if rmsg.Text, ok = ev.Content["body"].(string); !ok {
+			b.Log.Errorf("Content[body] is not a string: %T\n%#v",
+				ev.Content["body"], ev.Content)
+			return
+		}
+
 		// Do we have a /me action
 		if ev.Content["msgtype"].(string) == "m.emote" {
 			rmsg.Event = config.EventUserAction